2/6/2024 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Way young but need to open something….nice tannins…this could gain in strength if left alone for a few years

1/30/2024 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Good not great…waiting to see if 2nd day is better

9/8/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

On point as always from this castle

8/31/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Really good for a young wine…my wife really enjoyed it too

6/21/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I just drank my 3rd and final bottle…definitely better the 2nd day after opening. Lovely for the $40 price.

6/4/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Consistent with everything they make. I’ve had so many since visiting the actual castle/vineyard in 2009. Love everything from here.

4/24/2023 - au96alum Does not like this wine:

Cheap ass wine sucks

4/22/2023 - au96alum wrote:

Not as good as other Vintage years of this wine. Don't know how to put into words though. Maybe 2nd day will be better. Didn't try to decant it even though it is 13 years old when opening. I would open it now and not hold anymore if you still have it, not much of a collection piece either. Just drink with salami, cheese, and a nice charcuterie board. We visited this castle/winery in 2009 so I wanted to get something close to that year. For some reason, everything tasted better in Italy..

4/9/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Loved it and wish I had another one. Opened it at 9-10 year mark. The 15.3% alcohol was a nice touch with this beautiful blend of 43% Syrah, 35% Petit Verdot, 22% Cabernet. Definitely better 2-3 hours of decanting. Tobacco and earth tones, supple tannins but also Opulent. I wouldn’t wait too much longer if you have this one though. Enjoy now.

2/22/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Young but still delicious after opened and decanted. Price range is excellent for what you are getting…do it…buy it.

2/14/2023 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I typically don’t rate any white in the 90s but I loved this…it went well with the fish we had tonight and wished we had more bottles…lovely floral and citrus notes…but just damn good.

12/2/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Hmmmmmmm yummmmmyyyyyy

12/23/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Sexy, not too complicated, nice alcohol content, young but already good whether you hold it longer or not.

11/4/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I liked it but don't see the high rating others have given.

10/8/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Love it but prime time to open...

8/13/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Yummy…and wifey really liked it. She drank more of this bottle that typical…so it must be really good right? This vintage is ready to open now…don’t wait any longer.

6/23/2022 - au96alum wrote:

Sweet for a Sauvignon blanc…not a big fan of this one but for $16….sure it’s fine.

5/30/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I love it. David Ramey is the kind of Owner & Winemaker that I like. He spent years in working in the Old World and brought his knowledge here to mix with the CA knowledge. This bottle is prime for opening....don't wait too much longer for this vintage. Dark burgundy / brownish edges. 14.5% alcohol that give you long legs that even Old Man & Ralphie Parker would enjoy (A Christmas Story). This is a must buy at a decent price that you can't get often in Oakville.

4/24/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Pretty good for the price with a nice big brother wine from Oakville that costs a whole lot more. Try this little brother wine first…it’s still really good especially the 2nd day.

4/17/2022 - au96alum wrote:

A little disappointed because I loved so much from the castle vineyard who has been around for centuries. We visited here in 2010 and boughten wine from here since but not a fan of this one…don’t know if it’s the year, but not as impressed with this one like usual…still a solid 90 but no more.

4/17/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

If you knew that wine maker Françoise Peschon is part owner of this wine (Winemaker of the year 2019), who is also the wine maker for VHR, Accendo, and Heimark, you would gobble up cases of these at this price. It was so delicious but young. I opened up one of my 3 bottles to experience it but will hold my other 2 for awhile. I will give my full thoughts on the next bottle I open but just wanted to say that this $80 or so bottle range is still packed with the goodness of Peschon's hands...she knows what she is doing and I love the VHR wines so much. https://drinkwardpeschon.com/

4/17/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Very good for the price...a must have at <$15 bottle wine. Apricot but more floral notes that fruit but so good and refreshing. The nose gives off more steel casings and not wood. Nice white blend.

4/7/2022 - au96alum Does not like this wine:

Nah…tried it but never again...don't bother

4/3/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

VHR is definitely my favorite top 3 vineyards from California. I own a 2018 and a few 2019 but got to sit on it for awhile so I got this 2011 so I can open it now. I loved it. Beautiful nose, cherry-black fruit-plummy, dark earth and oak, polished and full bodied, structured tannins, gorgeous. Carmel / burgundy edges...definitely time to open decant a few hours but next day even popped more. I hope to visit there some day. I wish I had the 2009 and 2012 if anyone wants to share with me.

3/17/2022 - au96alum wrote:

Blah…not going to buy from Underground Cellar anymore.

3/8/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I know you could hold this longer but stil so good to drink now. Decanted over 3 hours at each additional hour. 14.5% alcohol gave long legs. Plummy, berries, velvety tannins, earth tones and fleshy, lovely finish that keeps giving. I was hesitant spending $100 on a bottle I never heard of but this family is doing it right and make good quality vino. Cheers and maybe we can visit there some day.

2/24/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I don’t love whites….but loved this one. So enjoyable…hits of apricot and light floral….I drink this white wine over and over

2/24/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Nice…but needed to try 2nd day after decanting and such…first day not as great. Floral notes, a little acidic, earthy oak tones

2/3/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Great time to open…nice nose…14% alcohol with fast legs at first but definitely slows down…ruby red. A little bite with aftertaste but nice going down. I never buy Malbec but this gift from a good friend was a nice change to my norm.

1/26/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

a beautiful Chianti from a beautiful place...one of our favorite vineyards we toured in Italy. Get this one...and enjoy.

1/20/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Regressing, light, and good with pizza night…wouldn’t pair it with a real nice dinner though.

1/14/2022 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Almost as good as their daddy Caymus but cost better what Caymus should cost like since they are overpriced….ha ha

12/25/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I liked it but not as high as most of the rating. I held this bottle in my wine frig cellar for more than a year anticipating this…and opened for Christmas. Little dry and disappointing for what I thought I was getting. ;-( Maybe we just got a bad bottle.

12/18/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Still you but can open up now too. Notes of earth tones, berries, and possibly leather of sorts…not much info on this. I would get again…possibly at a better price point.

12/12/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Great for under $40. I am glad I have a few more to hold on to for a bit before drinking

11/25/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Beautiful….wonderful for my Thanksgiving crowd

11/20/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

It’s as good as many $100-$300 ones for about $60. Full-bodied, slow legs, olished, muscular still wait a year or two, crisp, pepper, extracted, toasty….just a very nice wine red blend

11/19/2021 - au96alum Does not like this wine:

I don’t know if my bottle is corked taint or what but this wine sucks

11/7/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

This wine, took me back to my last trip to Italy. This one makes me want to back, kick back, and watch sunsets overlooking the vineyard or olive groves. Definitely worth the $50-60 if you can fund it. I didn't leave tasting notes....you need to find and taste for your own.

Started this off at 92 but when I tasted it again and hour later....nice...bumped it up to 93.

10/30/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Good not great…don’t know if it will get better over time. As good as it will get I think. A little more acidic than I like in a Cab.

10/26/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Nice!!! You can start opening this one. It is a little too sweet for petite sirah but still nice floral notes. Definitely worth the time to decant. Voluptuous, delicate, black fruit, couldn’t get much oak almost like it was in steel barrels. 15.8% alcohol but doesn’t act like it.

10/20/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I little young still...hold till at least 2023 to open. I decanted it for 2 hours and much better in 2nd hour than the first two. Still quick legs. Beautiful nose, hits of berries and oak/cedar. Nice finish, definitely could use a little more time but I wanted to open it.

10/19/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Wow just wow….

10/18/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

I love it..wonderful Cab from Italy for under $40. Definitely at its peek though and drink now…not a collector or worth holding now so please drink and enjoy if you have it in hand…great way to share an inexpensive beautiful cab with guest without busting the +>$100 type. Not giving notes on flowers and earth. Just open and experience before it’s too late.

9/19/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Better the next day but still a little young and could sit a little longer. Floral notes and earthy tones. It would have been nicer as at $40-$60….priced a little high for what I got.

9/10/2021 - au96alum Does not like this wine:

nah....not beautiful at all...kinda like boy or girl next door that bothers you to play and you play sick instead. I will wait another hour but I suspect that I still don't want to play and will just stay inside.

9/9/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Good but not over the top good at this price....that was a little disappointing. okay nose....maybe my taste buds are off today...a little too acidic or something for me. Better the first day after opening than the 2nd day after refrigerating and opening again.

8/6/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Bold, a little tannic, dry, tobacco and earth tints… taste like $30 bottle…not pay >$40

7/24/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Definitely better a couple hours later maybe the next day also. Great wine for the cost.

6/15/2021 - au96alum Likes this wine:

Absolutely gorgeous. I opened for my wedding anniversary and the first thing my wife said, "this is one of the best you have gotten". Smooth but with high alcohol content. Definitely berry nose with some earthiness. I couldn't tell on oak vs. steel barrels on this. Heavy tannins, dark ruby coloring, long legs, but absolutely good by itself or paired with steak/chocolate/etc. I just bought 2 more from my source since I loved it so much. It opened up during the 2 hour decantation but it was also beautiful right out of the gate. A must buy for a 2013 Cab.